Chestnut-crested cotinga

Ampelion rufaxilla

Photo by Lior Kislev (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
chestnut-crested cotinga (en); cotinga-de-crista-castanha (pt); cotinga à tête rousse (fr); cotinga cresticastaño (es); braunohrkotinga (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cotingidae

Range:
This South American species is found in the Andes from Colombia to Bolivia. In Colombia it occurs in the central Andes south to Quindío and Huila, and in the western Andes in Valle and Cauca. In Ecuador it is found in the east slope of the Andes in the north-east and south-east of the country, but not in intervening areas. Further south it is continuously distributed along the east slope of the Andes of Peru south to central Bolivia in Cochabamba and western Santa Cruz.

Size:
These birds are 18,5-23 cm long and weigh 69-77 g.

Habitat:
The chestnut-crested cotinga is found in the canopy of mountain rainforests, at altitudes of 1.300-3.000 m.

Diet:
They are mainly frugivorous but also known to take insects in flight.

Breeding:
Chestnut-crested cotingas breed probably in November-May. The nest is a shallow cup made of twigs and lichens, where the female lays a single greenish egg with dark spots. The eggs are incubated by both sexes but there is no information regarding the length of the incubation and fledgling periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as uncommon and patchily distributed. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.